Ethiopia’s Berhane Adere will return to Dubai to defend her title in the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 16.

Last year, the 35 year-old set a new Dubai record for the women’s event when she stormed to victory in a time of 2h:22m:42s to collect gold and the winner’s cheque for $250,000.

“We are delighted that Berhane has decided to defend her title in Dubai,” said event director Peter Connerton. “Her win and new race record means she is part of the history of our event and will always be welcome on the streets of Dubai.”

Although Adere failed to finish after dropping out at the 30lm mark in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics, she followed her win in Dubai with seventh place in the London Marathon and will start the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon as one of the race favourites.-TradeArabia News Service